BLOOMFIELDRECREATION CENTER

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The Pennsylvania State UniversityDepartment of Architecture3rd Year Architecture StudioFall 2012Section 002Professor Alexandra Staub

©2012 ARCH 331 Section 002Version 2.2Printed November 27th, 2012

Editors:Rose PaddisonVonn Weisenberger

Designers:Rose PaddisonVonn Weisenberger

Contributers:Garrett BuellMatthew BustamanteHannah EstrichRicky FryerKyrie MartinLaurie MendezRose PaddisonSam PhillipsConnor PritzKelsey RossRebecca SmithVonn WeisenbergerBrendan WestfallDavid Zubenko

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Part One: Program and Site Analysis

Part Two: Precedent AnalysisSite Views

Introduction

Athletic Facilities

Creekside Community Center

Boise State Recreation Center

Portland State Recreation Center

Site Map

Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

Powering the Center

User Groups

Program

Sustainability

Terwillegar Recreation Centre

Rusakov Workers Club

UC Recreation Center

Green Spaces

Commercial

Community Landmarks

Weather Studies

Engagement

Fire Safety

Meadows Recreation Centre

Ecopolis Plaza

Saint-Cloud Sports Center

Institutions

Physical History

Utilizing Wind

Site Model

ADA Accessibility

Saint-Hyacinthe Aquatic Center

Noyes Recreation Center

Pocono Env. Education Center

Circulation

Demographics

Bus Routes

Map Analysis Diagrams

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Site Documentation

Community 1

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Design Considerations

Maps

History

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“Recreation is dependent on a state of mind or attitude;it is not so much what one does as the reason for doing it,

and the way the individual feels about the activity,that makes it recreation”

Kraus’ Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society

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Hello, Bloomfield

A Changing Community’s Vision for the Future

constitute the site for this project. However, the existing recreation center facility is in such disrepair as to be unusable, which creates a void in the neighborhood for community gathering and recreation.

Whereas many neighborhoods of Pittsburgh sit adjacent to very large acreage parks or have more total area devoted to parks, Bloomfield’s “central” location and density underscore the importance of this site’s program to the community. The Bloomfield community wishes that student designs initiate an in-depth discussion of how to revitalize the recreation center and its surrounding park.

This project involves the design of a recreation center for the community of Bloomfield in Pittsburgh, PA.

“Bloomfield is known as Pittsburgh’s Little Italy, with Italian roots that go back five generations or more. The historic mix also includes German and Polish ancestries, all of which have strong ethnic pride, customs and commitment to family and neighborhood. Descendants from both groups still give the neighborhood its character today.

This character can perhaps best be described as earthy, gritty, close-knit, and proud; as local author Chris Potter puts it, ‘Bloomfield has always taken pride in its modest working-class aspirations and a lack of...upper-class trappings.’ The local rowhouses, constructed mostly of wooden frames covered long ago by aluminum siding, have unpretentious exteriors that often conceal lovingly maintained interiors.

‘Bloomfield has always taken pride in its modest working-class aspirations and a lack of...upper-class trappings.’

Bloomfield today maintains its strong roots, but is also experiencing an influx of newcomers. Its business district now boasts numerous Asian restaurants and other fare alongside established Italian ones. The main thoroughfare, Liberty Avenue, also offers a variety of types of businesses, such as coffee shops, clothing, book, and grocery stores that serve the community’s needs. Bloomfield’s central location in the city provides easy accessibility to and from other neighborhoods, and very affordable housing options led by a strong rental market.”

The neighborhood of Bloomfield ranks 8th in population in the city, with high early-career and non-family residents. While the neighborhood ranks 6th in street density and population density, it has the least amount park space and shade from street trees.

Because of this, the neighborhood has long relied on the existing ‘park’ and swimming pool that will

Bloomfield is beginning to see major changes as young families move to the area, bringing with them a desire for change.

The Bloomfield Vision Plan is a comprehensive study of the community that outlines future goals for the area. These goals recognize and strengthen the neighborhood’s existing assets.

Urban FormExisting assets include wide sidewalks, and tree-lined streets. Issues include narrow streets with no trees, trash, graffiti, and inconsistent signage. To improve the urban form of Bloomfield, there are many suggested policies, most of which deal with correcting the inconsistencies of the neighborhood. Providing uniform lighting, signage, gateways, and streetscaping will vastly improve the urban lifestyle of Bloomfield residents.

MobilityBloomfield is well-served by public transportation and also attracts the Pittsburgh bicycle community. It is extremely easy for people living in surrounding communities to travel to Bloomfield. Major concerns include snow removal and fast-moving traffic in certain areas. To improve these issues and promote the walkability and accessibility of Bloomfield, greater sidewalk maintenance needs to be implemented. Traffic needs to be reassessed at key points to maintain a good pedestrian experience. Traffic studies and proposed crosswalks are included in the maps section of this booklet.

Economic ProsperityEstablished businesses draw clientele to the area and help establish a neighborhood image. Challenges and concerns include vacant and dilapidated storefronts, unclean streets, and public safety issues. To address these issues, the community needs to provide assistance to business owners to improve neglected storefronts. Businesses that will provide necessary services that reach a diverse demographic need to be recruited into the area. Improvements to the Liberty Avenue streetscape that extend into other areas of Bloomfield will create a better experience for customers and bring more businesses to the area.

The intersection of Liberty Ave and the Bloomfield Bridge is extremely difficult for pedestrians to navigate.

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Social ResourcesNeighborhood assets include Bloomfield’s population and street densities - the area’s strong history produces residents who are interested and passionate about their community. Challenges that need to be addressed involve welcoming newcomers to the neighborhood. Through more events at parks, neighborhood-wide events, and the promotion of block unity, a spirit of cooperation and community can be fostered within Bloomfield.

Residential Land UseThere is a vast variety of affordable housing within Bloomfield, ranging from rental units to single-family homes. The biggest housing problem in Bloomfield is the 2:1 ratio of renters to homeowner. Additionally, young people experience difficulty purchasing property owned by older residents, who are limited in senior housing options.

RecreationBloomfield does have a variety of existing parks and sports fields, but they are neglected, provide inadequate facilities, and are small compared to parks in other Pittsburgh neighborhoods. A complete overhaul of Bloomfield parks is needed to provide adequate recreational opportunities in the community. This includes expanding programming at parks, working with neighboring communities to share park amenities, providing diverse types of park space, and maintaining parks in the future.

A complete overhaul of Bloomfield’s park space is needed to provide adequate recreational opportunities in the community.

Recreation facilities need to be improved and expanded. Students’ proposals for the recreation center site should provide indoor and outdoor facilities for a variety of age groups, from children to the elderly. The recreation center needs to become a community hub that serves as a welcoming entrance to the Bloomfield area.

The existing building at the site has been completely shut down due to its neglect and lack of funding. The neglect of the area not only brings down the image of the neighborhood, but provides an area for drug use and criminal activity.

The pool remains open in the summer, but is surrounded by overgrown park areas and a dangerous abandoned building.

The current recreation center site is heavily paved and surrounded with chain-link fencing. The portion of the site under the Bloomfield Bridge is completely devoid of any program.

Students and faculty meet with Bloomfield residents to discuss their ideas for the recreation center site and implications these changes would have on the surrounding area.

The existing playground is in relatively good condition, but is separated from other areas of the site by chain-link fences. 5

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The goal of this project is to work intimately with the Bloomfield community in order to design building proposals that accurately reflect their needs and desires. By presenting a variety of realistic design solutions, residents will be able to be see and understand the possibilities for the recreation center’s future. Ideally, our proposals will initiate real change in the community and help Bloomfield achieve its goals for the future.

To begin our real-world involvement with Bloomfield residents, we met in a local church to discuss possibilities for the site. By dividing into small groups of students and community members, we were able to hold a more intimate conversation about the project. Residents discussed their histories, current thoughts, and future hopes for the recreation center site and the neighborhood of Bloomfield as a whole.

Different programmatic elements were discussed with residents, which helped to refine the program to better accommodate community input.

It was mentioned that with a more flexible baseball field, local businesses and hospitals might have incentive to start their own teams. This would bring people into the area and promote restaurants and other business in Bloomfield.

Basketball was considered a ‘given’ by residents, who noted that the basketball courts were heavily used year-round.

ParkGreen SpaceA large green area is wanted to host a variety of events, from flag football to a place to have a picnic. This space is critical for Bloomfield as an up-and-coming neighborhood, providing the green area that it currently lacks. Bloomfield is one of the only Pittsburgh neighborhoods without a major park, leaving the Allegheny Cemetery as the only accessible green space. Bloomfield is also ranked as having the third least amount of shade canopy of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Trees should be incorporated into the design of green space whenever possible.

PlaygroundBoth the senior citizens and younger adults agree that a playground is a must. This will help encourage young families to move to the area and stimulate Bloomfield’s economy.

AthleticsFitness Center / GymnasiumThe fitness center would need to cater to all age groups, as they would utilize the space at different times and with different goals in mind.

PoolThrough discussion with residents, it became clear that an adaptable pool environment was necessary for it to appeal to all age groups. Families wanted child-friendly play areas and better integration of the pool area and outdoor play areas. Students and active residents wanted an area of the pool for swimming lanes that is somehow separated from child-friendly parts of the pool. Seniors wanted a portion of the pool for water aerobics classes. This variety of needs has to be accommodated by a pool that everyone in the community can take advantage of.

Outdoor Sports FacilitiesHockey was the biggest sport residents advocated for, although they did not specially mention any preference on ice versus street hockey facilities. It is possible that Bloomfield is already planning to build a large hockey center.

Bocce courts were the second most important sport facility for residents, as bocce is good for a variety of age groups. The existing courts are heavily used despite being unmaintained.

With a more flexible baseball field, local businesses would have incentive

to start their own teams, bringing people into the area.

Many residents used the Baseball field until it was renovated and made smaller, making it usable only for little league. Because less people were able to take advantage of the field, it fell into disrepair. The field is a memorial, but is only of value to a small selection of residents who are related to the person the field is named in honor of.

Initiating Change Program Analysis

Meeting with the Community

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sDog ParkWhile residents were divided on this issue, it remains an important design consideration. Thought should be given if pets should be allowed on recreation center property, and if so, what limits should be placed on them.

Given the diverse makeup of Bloomfield’s population special considerations must be made to try to meet as many goals as possible for each user while creating a cohesive center for the community.

SeniorsThe former local Senior Citizen Center was recently closed. Because of this the seniors must either drive or bus to another center in a neighboring community. The seniors would like a space that is accessible to them, and easy to walk to. During the community

meeting we learned that most of the community information was passed around by word of mouth, so providing a public space for congregation is wanted. The seniors would also like to take their grandchildren to the recreation center, so a safe playground is needed.

FamiliesGiven the recent influx of families to the area, not many safe places exist for children to play, or spaces for families to be together. The recreation center should allow space for workshops and activities during the summer and weekends. Because many of the homes in Bloomfield do not come with a large yard, a public garden was wanted, as well as a dog park.

TeenagersOf all the current members of the community this group is the most unrepresented. While the rest of the population is quite vocal about their needs the teenagers have not contributed anything to the conversation. However, many of the community members expressed their frustrations that the sight is used as a place for illegal activity, including underage drinking, drugs, and tagging. This group will incidentally be the most effected by the new recreation center. We must also create a building with them in mind, having areas for teenagers to congregate safely, thereby creating a secure recreation center everyone will use.

CommunityBloomfield HubThe previous recreation center served as a hub for the community, serving meals during summer pool hours and hosting little league games. The community would like to revitalize this in the new recreation center, creating a place for people to meet and strengthen community bonds.

Social GatheringsMembers of the community also expressed interest in having festivals, flea markets, and small family friendly concerts at the recreation center to bring the community together and chance to get to know your neighbors.

Space for LearningGiven the large age differences between users of the recreation center, there is a huge potential in the variety of classes provided. Community members were very interested in this aspect of the program and the possible classes that could be held, especially when different age groups could be brought together.

Summer CampsHistorically, the recreation center has held a summer camp during the day when kid’s parents have worked. This offered a lunch program, and provided a safe place for kids to play. Community members would like to see the summer camp reinstated, as well as opportunities for day care.

The population of Bloomfield has traditionally been made up of families. However, over the past decade the population has steadily decreased as many former families have aged and left the area. Yet, this trend seems to be reversing with the opening of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in 2009. This institution has served in providing thousands with jobs and has brought new families and hospital employees to the community. Bloomfield is now comprised of newer families, the majority of which are renters, North of Liberty Avenue and older residents, who are the majority of homeowners, South of Liberty Avenue. This provides a unique challenge to accommodate the recreation center to the current residents and the anticipated families that are looking to make a home in Bloomfield.

User Groups

The recently constructed Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has had a huge impact on the neighborhood of Bloomfield, bringing many new residents to the area

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Potential Usage Schedule: Weekday

Potential Usage Schedule: Weekend and Summer

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Both indoor and outdoor pools will be used by members of all age groups. The indoor pool will be utilized by the seniors especially during the day, allowing for group swim classes.

A playground is essential to the growing neighborhood. This area will serve as a meeting place for many families in the area.

Two indoor basketball courts ensure that all age groups will be able to use them throughout the year. The courts will appeal to many of the adult teams in the neighborhood.

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Multipurpose room for community meetings, performances, and private events.

2 Gymnasia, each the size of one 94’x50’ basketball court, 10’ rim height

Lobby with reception desk, vending machines, area for lounge, reading, and game room

General, Admin, Storage: 3,100 square feetEducation: 5,700 square feetSports Facilities: 16,000 square feet

Total: 24,800 square feet

10 parking spaces + 2 staff parking spaces + 3 handicapped parking spaces

= Daylighting required

= Daylighting required

Storage [chairs, tables, etc] and coat room

Weight and cardio room

First aid room

Swimming pool

Education

Sports Facilities

General / Administration / Storage

Square Footage Totals

Outdoor Facilities

Computer resource center

Changing / locker rooms

3 administrative offices

Mechanical Spaces Changing rooms / showers

Art studio

4 Classrooms

Indoor exercise pool

Restrooms

Winter storage for outdoor equipment Kiddy Pool

Kitchen and eating area

Restrooms / showers

Staff restrooms

Refuse room Existing outdoor sports facilities or new proposals

Craft workshop

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The facilities at this recreation center will be utilized by all generations of people from Bloomfield and the surrounding Pittsburgh area. This means that each programmatic element needs to remain flexi-ble enough to cater to a variety of users and events. A initial program was developed by professors and presented by students to Bloomfield community mem-ber, who provided feedback and helped inform a final program.

Program Description

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“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see”

Winston Churchill

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West End

South Side

East End

Central

North Side

BLOOMFIELD

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The Neighborhoods of Pittsburgh

The West EndThe West End is predominantly residential and industrial, with great views of the downtown skyline. It has very little in the way of shopping and dining options, especially in comparison to other districts. It also has very few tourist attractions to help the area distinguish itself from other regions of the city.

The South SideOnce known for its low-cost housing for factory workers, this region of the city is now locally admired and considered to be one of the best districts to own a home in. East Carson Street is one of the most vibrant areas in Pittsburgh, and is known for its lively music venues and nightlife, as well as its excellent shopping and dining options. In 1993, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh purchased the South Side Works steel mill property. Working with the community, the Authority created a master plan for a substantial mixed-use development which included a riverfront park, revamped office space, housing, and health-care facilities, as well as indoor practice fields for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers. Construction began in 1998, and today Southside Works is now a diverse mixed-use complex with plenty of options for dining, shopping, and other commercial spaces, including the world headquarters for American Eagle.

The East EndThe East End is home to many colleges and universities, most notably the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Chatham University. It is also a vibrant cultural center of the city, housing both the Carnegie Institute Museum of Art and Natural History, and Frick Art & Historical Center. It is also home to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. The East End’s Shadyside and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods are wealthy neighborhoods with upscale shopping and notably large business districts. The Oakland neighborhood, is comprised mostly of college students, and is home to most of the universities listed above, as well as Schenley Park and the Petersen Events Center. Bloomfield, the neighborhood in which our project is located, is considered Pittsburgh’s Little Italy, widely recognized for its many eateries and grocers of Italian ownership. It houses a growing number of youthful people as well, due in part to the affordability of housing in the area. The neighboring Lawrenceville neighborhood is considered a row-house neighborhood popular with artists and designers, which is considered up-and-coming. The Strip District neighborhood is unique, as this area functions as an open-air marketplace by day and morphs into a clubbing destination by night.

The North SideFormerly referred to as Allegheny City—which operated independently from Pittsburgh—is a region of Pittsburgh now referred to as the North Side. The North Side is predominantly residential, with most

buildings dating to the 19th century. These homes are notably well-crafted, using rich materials such as brick or stone, complimented by decorative woodwork, slate roofs and stained glass. The North Side also houses Heinz Field, PNC Park, Carnegie Science Center, Andy Warhol Museum, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Penn Brewery and Allegheny Observatory—many of which are big attractions for people from the city and beyond.

CentralDowntown Pittsburgh is dense, with a multitude of towers, the tallest being the U.S. Steel Tower at 841 ft. The Cultural District, a 14-block area along the Allegheny River, is packed with theaters and arts venues. This district has seen a recent upswing in residential development, the most innovative being Riverparc, a cultural revitalization project being undertaken by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Riverparc will eventually take up four city blocks, consisting of several mixed-use towers ranging from 20-30 stories that will feature over 700 residences, with an emphasis on green building and sustainability. The Firstside portion of downtown borders the Monongahela River and is the location of PPG Place, a distinct Gothic-style skyscraper complex. Firstside is another area with an upswing in residential development, with historic office towers being converted for residential use. The Port Authority operates a Light Rail System through the Downtown Area. Downtown is also home to a number of colleges and universities, most notably Point Park University, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and Duquesne University.

The Southside Works Project helped to transform the South Side neighborhood by creating open, walkable spaces among the mixed-use buildings.

The Oakland neighborhood in the East End is home to Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Catham University.

A view of downtown Pittsburgh and Point State Park.

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ryUntil 1868, the land that makes up the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Bloomfield was under the control of John Conrad Winebiddle, the son-in-law of the early European settler, Casper Taub. The neighborhood, which sits on a plateau created by the nearby Monongahela River, began as a small farming community. George Washington, who frequented this area of Pittsburgh during the Revolutionary War, described the land as “…high ground through a field of many blooms,” thus giving Bloomfield its historic name. After purchasing the land, Winebiddle divided the neighborhood into parcels and sold them to colleagues and friends, many of which were German immigrants. When the City of Pittsburgh took control of the land in 1868, the neighborhood of Bloomfield began to attract many European immigrants. With this influx in population, millworkers throughout the district began to construct wooden row houses, which were reminiscent of many of the resident’s homeland.

Bloomfield is broken down into three separate subdivisions: Bloomfield

Proper, Garfield, and Friendship, each with their own unique social and

physical characteristics.

The name ‘Little Italy’ was used to refer to Bloomfield after World War I, when jobs within the railroad and steel industries became prominent. The availability of these jobs attracted many Italians, whose culture still remains a vital part of the neighborhood today. In addition to German and Italian immigrants, there also exists a large Polish, African American, and college student population.

Unlike many other Pittsburgh neighborhoods, Bloomfield is broken down into three separate subdivisions, Bloomfield Proper, Garfield, and Friendship, each with their own unique social and physical characteristics.

A Brief History of Bloomfield

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Significant Bloomfield Landmarks

The Children’s Hospital of PittsburghThe development of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, from the very beginning, has always been a community affair. It was through community support and funding that the hospital was able to grow into what it has become today.

Now in its new home of Bloomfield, the Children’s Hospital has inspired a new sense of community involvement. Employees of the hospital have moved to the neighborhood, strengthening existing and forming new neighbor relationships, and encouraging healthy living and communal interests.

Using donated funds, a 15-bed hospital was opened to the Pittsburgh public on June 5, 1890 within the Oakland district. Their mission statement was “to try and meet the needs of the community in present day pediatrics and prevention.”

By the early 1900s the Children’s hospital was in constant use, and several additions were made, such as electric lighting and fans, to enhance the comfort for the hospital’s occupants.

In 1909, the hospital officially became the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

In the 1940s, the facility was recognized as a “hub hospital,” as it

continued growing and began serving children from western Pennsylvania,

eastern Ohio, and West Virginia.

Tag day, where prominent members of the community would line the streets for donations wearing yellow tags, became an annual fundraising event until 1975. The community’s involvement in the hospital’s success and continuity was extremely crucial.

By the early 1920s, the hospital had grown to house 100 beds, as well as a nursing school, surgical rooms, and an x-ray area. After a destructive fire in 1923, DeSoto Street was determined to be a more suitable site for the growing Children’s Hospital.

In the 1940s, the facility was recognized as a “hub hospital,” as it began serving children from western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and West Virginia.

The 1950s were a time of great expansion. By 1957, the hospital housed 253 beds and a new, $6 million wing for even more growth and development was built.

Accompanied by a professor from University of Pittsburgh’s department of Medicine, the Children’s Hospital became the world’s largest pediatric transplant center in 1981.

On May 2nd, 2009, the Oakland location was closed, and the hospital moved to its current location in Law-renceville. The new hospital, designed and built by architect Louis D. Astorino, was named the 7th most beautiful hospital in the US. It houses 296 beds, a ten-story research center, and a weight management and wellness center for children.

History of the Children’s HospitalThe development of the Children’s Hospital began with the founding of the Cot Club in 1887 by Kirk LeMoyne. LeMoyne raised $3,000 so that he could purchase a cot at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, which would be solely for the use of newborn babies and children.

Later that year, a local church worker, Miss Jane Holmes, donated $40,000 for a hospital to be built specifically for children.

The Children’s Hospital is located on Penn Avenue, next to the Allegheny Cemetery. As one of most significant destinations within Bloomfield, its proximity to the site is an important consideration.

The new hospital building, located in Bloomfield.

The Children’s Hospital is significantly higher than any other building or landmark in Bloomfield.

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The Western Pennsylvania HospitalAs a hospital of many ‘firsts,’ the Western Pennsylvania Hospital has continuously been at the forefront of modern day’s best medical practices. As a result, there is a large draw towards the community of Bloomfield to take advantage of the hospital’s employment opportunities and patient services.

Due to the lack of specified communal gathering spaces in Bloomfield, the Western Pennsylvania Hospital often opens its doors to the public. The community is permitted to hold meetings and events within the larger gathering spaces of the hospital. Since it is located right off of Bloomfield’s main spine street, Liberty Ave, the hospital serves a convenient and accessible meeting place for all.

History of the Western Pennsylvania HospitalThe hospital was founded on March 18, 1848 and served as the first public hospital in Pittsburgh. It was originally located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, and then moved to Bloomfield in 1912

The foundation of the hospital was the result of a letter from Dorothea Dix, who wrote a report on Pittsburgh’s horrible health conditions and lack of medical institutions. This report prompted a series of community meetings, which eventually led to the conception of The Western Pennsylvania Hospital.

The hospital was the first hospital within the Pittsburgh area to serve soldiers in the Civil War. In 1863, it served as a military hospital and later a ‘Soldiers Home’. Later it was the first hospital to sponsor a medical college in about 1883

Western Pennsylvania was also the first in Pittsburgh to open an intensive care unit in 1959, and the first dedicated to patient-focused care in 1995.

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is located down Liberty Avenue from the recreation center site. As a huge employer and community meeting venue, it is an important landmark for Bloomfield as a community and also for our site.

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is also a huge landmark within Bloomfield - not only is it physically visible other areas of Pittsburgh, it serves as a community hub

After the decision, fund raising began and St. Joseph was established on May 22, 1870, as a German parish within Bloomfield.

A fire in 1942 severely damaged the interior of the church, and the renovation resulted in the removal of the tower tops.

Due to a shortage of priests in the Diocese, St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception began sharing the same pastor in 1993. The separation lasted until 2001, when the two parishes decided to merge as one.

Immaculate Conception ParishItalian immigrants from the Abruzzi region formed the Immaculate Conception Parish on June 25, 1905.

Before the construction of the church was complete on May 13, 1906, mass was held in a Bloomfield storage room.

The rapid growth in the parish population led to the construction of an additional chapel and school, the Holy Calvary Chapel, in 1910.

A fire damaged the church in 1925, and the reconstruction resulted in the church being enlarged.

By the 1950’s however, it was determined that the church was in poor condition, and construction on a new church began in 1959. On October 1, 1961, the new church was completed.

Today, the beautification of Allegheny Cemetery is a consistent and important component of its daily maintenance.

The first annual DooDahDay was established on July 1st, 2006. The community festival includes carriage rides, historical reenactments, and music that was popular around the cemetery’s time of origin.

Allegheny Cemetery is the 6th largest rural incorporated cemetery in the

United States.

2007 marked the finalization of the tree inventory and reforestation maintenance program. At the time 2,511 trees existed on the grounds of the site.

In 2009, webcemetaries.com documented the location of the cemetery’s roughly 130,000 inhabitants, allowing the public to easily find their loved ones within the grounds.

The cemetery consists of 300 acres, 100 of which remain for future development. In addition, 15 miles of road wind throughout the property.

Allegheny Cemetery is the 6th largest rural incorporated cemetery in the United States.

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Allegheny Cemetery is a huge green space. Due to Bloomfield’s lack of large park areas, the cemetery fills in as a natural park-like area for residents.

An aerial view of the cemetery shows how large it is compared to surrounding neighborhoods. The cemetery is significantly larger than the entire community of Bloomfield.

The Butler Street Gate serves as the main southern entrance to the cemetery.

The cemetery features rolling landscapes, miles of walkways, and lush, natural green spaces.

Allegheny CemeteryThe conception of Allegheny Cemetery began as early as 1834, when the Third Presbyterian Church of Pitts-burgh determined that a burial ground was necessary to serve the entire community. After years of negotia-tion and planning, The Allegheny Cemetery was es-tablished on April 24th, 1844.

In 1848, it was determined that Allegheny Cemetery would be the resting ground for prominent naval heroes

On Memorial Day in 1937, the first memorial was built in honor of those who served for their country both home and abroad.

On December 3rd, 1961 the Temple of Memories Mausoleum, based on the Mellon Institute in Washington DC, was erected. The Mausoleum displays 22 varieties of marble, and 10 sets of stained glass windows.

The first cremation took place on October 22nd, 1964

The Cemetery became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1980

One of the main goals of the Allegheny Cemetery was to inspire a communal landmark that would eliminate the typical association we have with burial grounds.

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sBy investigating the social history of Bloomfield and interpreting the demographic information, several conclusions can be made that will influence the design of our recreation center projects.

The current population of Bloomfield is around 8,442. However, this is a historically low population for the neighborhood. The population has been steadily decreasing since the 1940’s, as shown in the figure below. Many see the population decline as a result of the significant aging population as shown in the age distribution chart. As the families from past generations aged, their children left the area, creating an area with almost a quarter senior citizens.

Demographics This relatively large population of senior citizens is reflected in the housing chart below. Most of the senior citizens in the area own their own home, and for many their home has been in the family for two or three generations. This tradition in passing down houses through generations can be seen in the chart on the right, where almost 75% of the houses were built before 1939.

Recently, an influx of younger people and families has come to Bloomfield, with the majority renting homes. While, some of this age group do not stay in Bloomfield, there has been a large number searching for a permanent home, and a place to raise a family. The new recreation will be further incentive for families and young adults to settle in Bloomfield. Below is a chart of the current residences in Bloomfield, where the majority are rented.

The basketball courts are a major draw to the current recreation center. Youths from all over the neighborhood use the court almost year-round.

Built before 1939

Built from 40-59

Built from 60-79

Built from 80-89

Built from 90-99

Built from 00-09

Less than 5

Vacant

5-19

Owned

20-34

Rented

35-59

60-74

Greater than 75

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

20,708

8,442

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

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Further analysis of the demographics shows that the majority of the residents in Bloomfield are working-class white men. In this group, the majority work in social services. These social services include medical professions at the hospitals located in Bloomfield. The more people that are working within Bloomfield, the more people that will settle down and reside there. The charts below further analysis the employment and ethnic makeup of Bloomfield.

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Many residents currently use the recreation center site as a place to walk their dogs. This, however, was a mixed issue among the community discussion groups.

Education, Heath and Social Services

Arts, Entertainment, and Hospitality

Other

Retail

Administration

Infrastructure

Manufacturing

Information Services

White

High School Graduate

Good/ExcellentCondition

African American

Bachelor’s Degree

Average Condition

Asian

Postgraduate

Poor Condition

Other

Some High School

Native American

Associate/Professional Degree

Population // 8,442 // 2010 Census Data

= 200 People

8,442 from 2010 Census Data

200people=

Population // 8,442 // 2010 Census Data

= 200 People

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“I have an affection for a great city. I feel safe in the neighborhood of man, and enjoy the sweet security of the streets”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Liberty Avenue

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While the site is in a prime location in terms of proximity to other major landmarks in Bloomfield, it is very inaccessible. This is due to a variety of factors. Even though the Bloomfield Bridge is a huge thoroughfare, it goes over the site and does not offer any direct access to the area. The major intersection of the bridge and Liberty Avenue makes access very limited for a multiple block radius around the intersection. Student designs need to completely redefine means of access to the site.

There is great potential for interaction between the recreation center and surrounding businesses if circulation is addressed creatively.

Map Analysis

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PROJECT SITE

SCHOOLS

CHURCHES

HOSPITAL

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A1 CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGHSTEVEN FOSTER COMMUNITY CENTER

A3 CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGHA6 BRONSON’S CHILD CAREC2 WOOLSLAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLD4 ST JOSEPH’SD5 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL

IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONTHE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSFACILITIES THAT SPECIFICALLY SERVE THE COMMUNITY

A

B

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D

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

A1 - Carnegie Library of PittsburghD4 - St. Joseph’s ChurchD5 - Immaculate Conception ChurchD5 - Immaculate Conception School

A3 - Children’s Hospital of PittsburghD5 - The Western Pennsylvania HospitalA6 - Bronson’s Child CareC2 - Woolslair Elementary School

HospitalsSchoolsLibrariesChurches

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B1 ARSENAL PARKA3 ALLEGHENY CEMETERY

C2 BLOOMFIELD RECREATION CENTERC5 FRIENDSHIP PARK

OPEN GREEN SPACES IN BLOOMFIELDSPECIFICALLY FOR COMMUNITY RECREATION

A

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Nearby Green Space and ParksA3 - Allegheny CemeteryB1 - Arsenal ParkC2 - Bloomfield Recreation CenterC5 - Friendship Park

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B2 - Sunoco Gas & Convenience B2 - Wison DrugB3 - R&B Smoke ShoppeC3 - Shur SaveC4 - Tobacco Outlet

D4 - Bloomfield News & TobaccoD4 - Bloomfield Drug StoreD5 - Chipra ExpressD5 - Sunoco Gas & Convenience

Project SiteRestaurantsConvenienceServicesRetail

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PROJECT SITE

RESTAURANTS

CONVENIENCE

SERVICES

RETAIL

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B2 - Jed’s Notary ServiceB2 - Nationwide InsuranceB3 - Dentist’s OfficeC4 - Bloomfield TanC4 - Nail Studio 1C4 - B&j CleanersC4 - Sanchez & AssociatesC4 - CSC ConstructionC4 - Cash DepotD4 - Tattoo NoirD4 - State Farm AgentD4 - Nail StudioD4 - ACE Checks CashedD4 - OrthodontistD4 - The Sandwich ShopD4 - Vacca’s CleanersD4 - Nova DentalD4 - Massage TherapyD4 - Yolanda’s Hair DesignsD4 - TanningD4 - H&R BlockD4 - Bloomfield LaundromatD4 - CJ Hoffman RealtyD4 - Dan Cercone BarbershopD5 - Family Foot CenterD5 - CurvesD5 - Law OfficesD5 - Nationwide InsuranceD5 - The Golden Razor BarbershopD5 - Therapeutic MassageD5 - Walkowaki RealtyB2 - Fazio’s PizzaB2 - Tram’s KitchenB2 - Cats and Dogs CafeB2 - Sammy’sB2 - Graziano’s PizzeriaB3 - BrilloboxB3 - Penn Main CafeB3 - Taste of IndiaC3 - Tokyo Japanese SteakhouseC3 - Bloomfield Bridge TavernC3 - Ristorante Del Pizzo & Del’s BarC4 - Thai Gourmet

C4 - Coyote CafeC4 - Howler’sC4 - Crazy Mocha CafeC4 - China HouseD4 - Pizza ItaliaD4 - Tessaro’sD4 - Lot 17D4 - Mezzanote CafeD4 - Thai CuisineD4 - Grasso Roberto CafeD4 - Donatelli’s Italian Food CenterD4 - Wai Wai Chinese CuisineD4 - Pollock’s CafeD5 - Simple Treat BakeryD5 - Damico’s PizzaD5 - Angelo’s PizzeriaD5 - Cafe RomaD5 - SubwayD5 - Lombardozzi’s RestaurantD5 - Pleasure BarD5 - Armand’s Famous Fish SandwichesD5 - Rocky’sD5 - Paddy Cake BakeryD5 - WG Grinders & StarbucksB2 - Auggie’s Beauty SupplyB2 - West Penn Brush & Textile NexusB3 - Budget Printing ServiceC4 - Sacred Heart of Jesus StoreC4 - Bloomfield HardwareC4 - Box HeartC4 - Home VoicesD4 - Sound Cat RecordsD4 - All This N’ ThatD4 - Dollar Max & MoreD4 - Citizen’s BankD4 - Steel City Uniform Co.D4 - $1.00 MagicD4 - Fidelity BankD4 - Costume ServicesD4 - Cricket WirelessD4 - Gator’s SaloonD4 - Maria’s: Bambinos to BridesD4 - Fifth & Third Bank

D4 - Allure ClothierD5 - HallmarkD5 - Wear After ShopD5 - J&R FlowersD5 - American Discount UniformD5 - Atlas Audio RepairD5 - PNC Bank

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High Traffic - Pedestrians Use Caution

Low Traffic - Pedestrian Friendly

Safe Crosswalk Proposed Crosswalk

Penn Avenue

Friendship

Liberty Avenue

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Lawrenceville

High traffic - pedestrians must use caution Pedestrians and bikers can easily approach the site from the southeast. Pedestrians and bikers approaching the site from other areas of Bloomfield must use caution when crossing Penn Avenue, Main Street, and Liberty Avenue.

An important consideration is the option to add a crosswalk at Liberty and Canoe Way. This would provide a direct route to the site from the northwest side of Liberty Avenue.

Existing crosswalk Proposed Crosswalk

Low traffic - pedestrian and bike friendly

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86 - Liberty

54 - North Side - Oakland - South Side

87 - Friendship

64 - Lawrenceville - Waterfront

88 - Penn

Bus Stop64 - LawrencevilleThe site of the recreation center is located within

easy walking distance of five major bus lines. The connection of the site to these nearby stops should be carefully considered in order to increase visibility of the center by giving access to

88 - Penn86 - Liberty

= Bus Stop

54 - North Side / Oakland / South Side87 - Friendship

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Grid 1 is created by West Liberty Avenue before it intersects with the Bloomfield Bridge

Access points - longer arrows indicate heavier traffic

Grid 2 is created by the Bloomfield Bridge and East Liberty Avenue

Access points inform entrance locations

The Bloomfield Recreation Center site is located at the intersection of grids 1 and 2.

Possible entrance locations, each requiring different levels of site changes, such as the removal of the pool or baseball field.

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“People’s minds are changed through observation and not through argument”

Will Rogers

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Summer Solstice: June 21 at 8 am Summer Solstice: June 21 at 4 pm Fall/Spring Equinox: 8 am

Temperature and Precipitation

The Highest recorded temperature was 101°F in 1988

The Lowest recorded temperature was -19°F in 1994

July on average is the warmest month

January on average is the coolest month

Average Temperaturein degrees Fahrenheit

100

Jan Jun Dec

Low

High

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Fall/Spring Equinox: 4 pm Winter Solstice: December 21 at 8 am Winter Solstice: December 21 at 4 pm

Powering the Center

HUMAN ENERGY CURRENT CONVERTS RENEWABLE ENERGY Kenetic energy from your workout is ReRev converts the DC current into The electricity can then converted to DC (Direct Current) AC (Alternating Current), the form of be used to power the buildingand sent to the ReRev System electricity used by homes and businesses

HUMAN ENERGY CURRENT CONVERTS RENEWABLE ENERGY Kenetic energy from your workout is ReRev converts the DC current into The electricity can then converted to DC (Direct Current) AC (Alternating Current), the form of be used to power the buildingand sent to the ReRev System electricity used by homes and businesses

HUMAN ENERGY CURRENT CONVERTS RENEWABLE ENERGY Kenetic energy from your workout is ReRev converts the DC current into The electricity can then converted to DC (Direct Current) AC (Alternating Current), the form of be used to power the buildingand sent to the ReRev System electricity used by homes and businesses

Human EnergyKinetic energy from your workout is converted to DC, direct current, and sent to the Re-Rev system

Current ConvertersRe-Rev converts the DC currant into AC, alternating current, the form of electricity used by homes and businesses

Renewable EnergyThis electricity can then be used to power the building.

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The Bloomfield Bridge spans the recreation site. This causes a unique scenario for wind tunnels between the bridge supports that will direct wind through the site. The strongest wind runs East to West during the fall and winter months. However, this strong wind tunnel could be taken advantage of during the sum-mer months. This would be a passive way to cool the building and help the recreation center achieve its sustainability goals.

During the winter months the predominant winds come from the west. In the summer the predominant winds come from the south west.

Utilizing Wind

This is an example of a wind tower commonly seen in Arabic countries. It sends cool air down the tower and into the rest of the building.

Windows in the recreation center should be carefully considered, so that they allow breeze but not a draft throughout the building.

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Wind Speed (mph) for September

2-5 5-7 7-10 10-15 15-20 20+

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View from the North East, highlighting the residential area of Bloomfield.

View from the South West, showing how the Bloomfield bridge cuts directly across the site.

View from the West, showing the dramatic topography change from the residential area to the ravine.

The Bloomfield site model was a major undertaking, given the extreme topography changes that occur at the site. In building the model, of MDF, wood houses, and mat board roads, the relationship between the major elements of the site was better understood. For example, the high density of the residential area of Bloomfield compared to the heavily wooded ravine was explored, and showed how the recreation site needed to create a buffer between the two.

Physical Site Model The BridgeIn building the site model, the bridge could also be studied. This major feature of the site not only affects where the recreation could be built on the site, but also allowed for shadow studies. The image below shows a birds eye perspective from the South West of the Bloomfield bridge.

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“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else”

Albert Einstein

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For More information, see NCAA guidelines or Architectural Graphic Standards chapter 17

Sport Field Dimensions

Additonal Information - Architectural Graphic Standards

Baseball - adult 350-ft Radial arc from backstop 760Baseball - little league 200-ft Radial arc from backstop 760Basketball 50 ft x 94 ft 774Bocce 60 ft x 12 ft 767Field Hockey 300 ft x 180 ft 767Football 360 ft x 160 ft 762-64Lacrosse 300 ft x 160 ft 767

Pools Various Sizes 781-789

Soccer 115 yds x 70 yds 765-66Softball 325-ft radial arc from backstop 760Tennis 78 ft x 36 ft 772-73Volleyball 29.5 ft x 59 ft 779

90'

90'

245' 15'

R350’ to Backstop

Baseball - Adult

94'

50’

R6'

R6'

10’

13’

Basketball

60'

1'

6' 20' 4'

12'

Bocce

60'

60'

194'

R200' to Backstop

Baseball - Little League

TEAM AREATEAM AREA

345' min.

210' min. 132'

12'

54'

R30'

60'

Soccer

After considering the programmatic elements of the recreation center, regulation sizes of athletic fields were taken into account. Since there is such a wide array of types of athletic fields, the most popular sports fields were researched. The size of the field was identified as well as places to find additional information regarding these fields. The NCAA website has data regarding each sports field size as well as the tenth edition of Architectural Graphic Standards by Ramsey and Sleeper.

Athletic Field Requirements

The majority of the code that is used in this area of Pittsburgh is derived from the International Building Code. According to the IBC the community center is classified as occupancy group A3. According to the Pittsburgh Zoning Code, the site falls within the “P” district, which includes parks. That means that the building height restriction is 40 ft or no more than 3 stories.

A major portion of the code is in regards to the means of egress. As seen in Figure 1, the means of egress is similar to a system of rivers. Each aisle, corridor, and hallway ultimately lead to the point of exit from a building similar to how each stream leads to a river which leads to the ocean. Figure 2 shows the reason why a building should have more than one escape route – in case an exit is obstructed by a hazard. Figure 3 describes the parts of the means of egress. The first part is the exit access. This is composed of the aisles, corridors, and hallways as described in Figure 1. The second part is the exit. This is the fire resistant portion that leads towards the last portion, the exit discharge. The exit is created by a set of fire resistant stairways that are accessible from every floor within the building. The maximum travel distance to an exit is 250ft with a sprinkler system installed, and 200ft without.

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EXIT ACCESS

EXIT

EXIT DISCHARGE

Egress Court

Street or other public way

Graphic sources: Fig. 1, 2, 3 from Building Code Illustrated

Figure 1

Figure 2 Figure 3

Linked North - South RoomsThe main room on the exterior gets a full amount of light entering from the outside. A small divider creates two spaces, but also allows some direct and indirect sunlight to enter the rooms further from the facade.

South-Facing Large RoomAs a mix of the elongated room and linked North - South room schemes, two rooms receive full direct sunlight as does the larger centered room. All rooms branching off of the central room benefit from indi-rect sunlight

Roof DesignTall Room to the SouthSun enters the rooms along the facade, but also gives direct light to rooms deeper within the building that are positioned lower if they are surrounded by glass. The deep rooms that are elevated can gain indirect light.

Tall Room In-betweenA similar idea allows direct light to penetrate the building and provide direct light for more rooms.

Mezzanine Under SlopeProvides light for not only the mezzanine located along the edge of the building, but also for the room that the mezzanine is overlooking.

Trays Under SlopeEach tray receives direct light by positioning the roof so that the sun can enter the building at an optimal angle.

With Pittsburgh’s below average amount of sunlight per year, careful consideration must be paid to the positioning of certain program elements. The help offset the decreased availability of sunlight, windows and roofs can be designed to take advantage of all of the Sun’s rays. The diagrams directly to the right depict how plans can be configured to help sunlight penetrate as deep as possible into a building.

Window DesignElongated Rooms, East-WestThis simple configuration allows light into all of the rooms along the exterior. If classrooms are positioned on the edge of the structure, light can easily penetrate and fill the room.

Staggered RoomsAllow for light to enter the building at normal angles, but also permits indirect sunlight to enter the building by bouncing it off the exteriors of the adjacent rooms.

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Stepped ClerestoriesSlight overhangs protect the interior from unwanted light, while permitting indirect light to illuminate the rooms when light is desired.

Sun ShadingThere are numerous strategies that can be used to shield windows from excessive sun exposure. Sun-shades can either be fixed or mobile; each category is outlined in detail below.

Fixed ShadingCantilevered building elements can shade windows. They can be made of opaque or semi-translucent materials to vary the amount of sunlight blocked. Obviously, the bigger the protrusion the greater amount of light will be blocked, but if designed correctly these can permit wanted sunlight while blocked the undesired. This can be a much cheaper solution than movable louvers or sunshades.

Fixed exterior sun-shades can block specific angles of sunlight from entering the building. By angeling the fixed shader, even more precision can be gained when considering what light is allowed to enter the building.

Mobile ShadingManually or mechanically maneuverable louvers can allow windows to adapt to current conditions. These would stay in a somewhat fixed position, but pivot on an axis to shade the windows at certain times of the day. This type of louver will give the facade of the building an interesting and changing facade.

Louvers can also slide into place along a track. This al-lows windows to receive full sunlight at certain points of the day, but also can fully block out the sun when-ever it is not desired.

Movable louvers can rotate to block varying amounts of light. These louvers spin in place to permit varying amounts of light to enter the structure.

A combination sun shade where the louvers can slide into place and also rotate to permit the desired amount of light into the building. Louvers can slide into place and even rotate to become fully closed to the outside. This gives each window the ability to be both fully open and closed to sunlight, while allowing them to receive any amount of light in between.

Ventilation SchemesAn easy way to ventilate a room is to create instances of inlets and outlets. To the right are simplified exam-ples of how air flow works, and how simple changes to window conditions can alter the path of the wind.

With an inlet and outlet closer to the ceiling, a breeze will enter the room and move towards the roof and then leave. This can create airflow through a room without requiring it to interact with the user and cre-ate an uncomfortable draft.

In rooms where a breeze is desired, the inlet and out-let can be placed lower to the floor. By doing this, the air will enter the room and travel closer to the floor before exiting the room.

Movable louvers can be affixed to windows to alter the path that the air would normally want to travel along. With an inlet closer to the floor, louvers can be angled upwards to still allow the air to flow closer to the ceiling and prevent any unwanted wind from inter-acting with the users.

Conversely, louvers can be aimed downwards to cause air entering a raised inlet to flow towards the bottom of a room, thus creating a breeze to cool of the users.

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Summer Air OutWarm summer air can be stored in the double skin and released to the outside. This prevents it from overheating the interior rooms which would cause them to become uncomfortable.

Double-Skin FacadesDouble skin facades can help create ventilation for a building by creating favorable situations at any time of the year.

Winter Air OutSunlight heats the cavity between the two skins cre-ating heating for the building. Also, air can be vented out through the facade to keep a comfortable heat inside the building and the cool air out. Warm air can also rise through the building to heat other rooms.

Mid-Season Air OutSunlight heats the cavity between the two skins cre-ating heating for the building. Also, air can be vented out through the facade to keep a comfortable heat inside the building and the cool air out. Warm air can also rise through the building to heat other rooms.

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Heating TechniquesDouble skin facades can help create ventilation for a building by creating favorable situations at any time of the year.

Direct HeatingAs the name states, direct heating makes use of di-rect sunlight to help passively heat a room. There are a few different ways this can be done, but both allow heat to be stored which can cool a room to comfort-able temperatures during the day. At night the heat will then be released back into the building at night. This process can save cooling costs, while also lessen-ing the need for heating during the nighttime hours.

The sun heats a large mass (usually a masonry wall) inside the building. The larger the mass the more heat can be stored. Careful consideration needs to be taken about the size of the mass, because too much mass can suck all of the heat from a room and too little will not have an effect on the temperature at all. At night, the heat is then released back into the room creating passive heating and reducing costs.

An interior water wall can also be used to have the same effect. The sun heats the tube filled with water within the wall, which circulates and later radiates heat back into the room at night. Again, this method is a simple way to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Indirect HeatingIn this method, a large mass also stores the heat, but it gains heat in a different way. The masonry wall is capped by a glass wall on the exterior. Small vents in the top and bottom of the wall allow air to circulate through the cavity created between the glass and the masonry wall. The air flow can then pull heat from the masonry wall and carry it back into the room.

Isolated HeatingAn attached greenhouse-like room can allow a great amount of heat to enter the building. The heated air will fill the room along the exterior of the building. Again vents along the floor and ceiling between the two rooms allow for some of the heat to circulate into the deeper room.

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Given the diversity of the population of Bloomfield special consideration must be given to comply with all ADA Standards so that all in the community will be able to use the recreation center. Outlined are a few basic ADA requirements that will help direct design decisions, however this does not reflect the entirety of ADA standards which should be refereed to through-out the deign process.

Accessible RoutesThe minimum clear width of the accessible route around an obstruction shall be as shown in Fig. 1 (a) and (b).

DoorsOpenings shall be a minimum of 32”. The minimum space between two hinged or pivoted doors in series shall be 48” plus the width of any door swinging into the space as shown in Fig. 2.

SlopeAn accessible route with a running slope greater than 1:12 is a ramp. Handrails shall be 34” to 36” and shall be on both sides of the ramp as shown in Fig. 3 (a).

StairsThe minimum tread length will be 11”. Handrails shall comply be 34” to 36” and shall be on both sides of the stairs as shown in Fig. 3 (b).

Changes in LevelIf an accessible route has changes in level greater than 1/2”, as shown in Fig. 4 (a), then a curb ramp, ramp, elevator, or platform lift shall be provided. A curb of 1/4” is accepted as shown in Fig. 4 (b).

36” 48” 36”

36”

42” 42” X

When X<48”

48”

11”

34” to 48”

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Fig. 2 Fig. 3 (a) Fig. 3 (b)

Fig. 4 (a) Fig. 4 (b)

ADA Accessibility Code

60”

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BathroomsA standard stall located at the end of the row is shown in Fig. 1 (a) and (b). The height of water closets shall be 17” to 19”, measured to the top of the toilet seat. The grab bar behind the water closet shall be 36” minimum. Standard toilet stalls with a minimum depth of 56” shall have wall-mounted water closets. If the depth of a standard toilet stall is increased at least 3”, then a floor-mounted water closet may be used. Grab bars complying with the length and positioning shown in Fig. 1 (a) and (b) shall be provided.

Parking Spaces and Loading Zones Accessible parking spaces shall be at least 96” wide. Two accessible parking spaces may share a common access aisle as shown in Fig. 2. Parking spaces and access aisles shall be level with surface slopes not exceeding 1:50 in all directions. Curb ramps shall be provided wherever an accessible route crosses a curb. Maximum slopes of adjoining gutters, road surface immediately adjacent to the curb ramp, or accessi-ble route shall not exceed 1:20. The minimum width of a curb ramp shall be 36”. If a curb ramp is locat-ed where pedestrians must walk across the ramp, or where handrails or guardrails do not protect it, it shall have flared sides; the maximum slope of the flare shall be 1:10. Built-up curb ramps shall be located so that they do not project into vehicular traffic lanes.

A sign with the international symbol of accessibility and “van accessible” designates van accessible parking.

Accessible parking spaces shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel from adjacent parking to an accessible entrance

Fig. 1 (b)Fig. 1 (a)

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2Precedent Analysis

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This recreation center was constructed for the Athletes village for the 2010 Winter Olympics which were held in Vancouver. The primary programs of the center include a gymnasium, fitness rooms, administration space, and classrooms for activities and meetings. In addition, the building was designed so that there is a restaurant, boating center and daycare facility in addition to the recreation center so that all four may be operated in conjunction with one another and while also having the option of opening independently.

One of the biggest accomplishments of the center is its LEED Platinum certification. This award made the center the first building in Canada to have achieved such high sustainable design standards.

Creekside Community Center

Year: 2012 [under construction]Location: Vancouver, British ColumbiaArchitect: Nick Milkovich ArchitectsSize: 45,000 square feet

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Separate Programming

RestaurantBoat Rental/ShopRecreational CenterDaycare Center

Major Access Routes

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The overall site stands at 105 meters long and 34 me-ters deep. The site’s location between a city street and the beautiful False Creek required for two facade de-signs with a street spanning the depth of the building between the restaurant and boat rental facility. This internal avenue also serves as a way to connect the separate programming within the building, allowing for a covered access point for four separate facilities.

A primary focus of the building, as can be seen in its LEED certification, was sustainability. This is seen in the building’s cladding, which is composed of a com-bination of glass, concrete and zinc. While concrete is not a material found natively, the additional mixture was used so as to minimize the involvement of Port-land cement. The glass windows are placed intention-ally so as to allow maximum light throughout the day while being careful with placement on the South wall to avoid solar heat gain. Interior materials are also renewable and environmentally friendly, including Bamboo plywood and low-emitting materials such as adhesives and paints.

To make the most efficient use of the site’s water, cis-terns collect storm water. This means of water collec-tion may be used for flushing toilets and watering the drought resistant vegetation.

You can find more information at the following sites:

www.sabmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/10/2011-sab-award-winner-creekside-community-centre/

www.milkovicharchitects.com/projects/cultur-al-creekside-community-centre.php

www.newyork-architects.com/en/projects/31140_creekside_community_centre/all/indexA

www.integralgroup.com/gallery/community/creekside-community-centre/

www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/projects/munici-pal/the-creekside-community-centre,-vancouver,-brit-ish-columbia,-canada.aspx

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Most ventilation is derived from a combination of mechanical and natural systems. Door and windows provide natural air access into and through the build-ing when the weather conditions allow. In addition, HRV units recover heat from exhausted air.

Heating is primarily accomplished through radiating floors and ceiling tiles. A district heating system and vacuum tube solar thermal collectors allow for this.

Most of the buildings cooling systems are done pas-sively, through a superbly insulated envelope, natu-ral ventilation and properly placed shading. A heavy massed structure and mixed ventilation also provides the building with energy efficient cooling facilities.

One of the key aspects of this building’s design was the goal of keeping the site at 50% vegetation. Green roofs, interior green walls as well as exterior landscap-ing allowed this to happen.

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Meadows Recreation Centre

Year: 2012 [under construction]Location: Edmonton, AlbertaArchitect: Shore Tilbe Perkins + WillSize: 234,419 square feet

The Meadows Recreation center will provide both indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities to residents of Edmonton, which allows it to be active and welcoming year-round.

It has been designed with the intention of achieving LEED Silver certification through the implementation of green roofs, efficient mechanical systems, daylight harvesting, and reduced water consumption.

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Programmatic OverviewFacilities within the Meadows Recreation Centre are consolidated into major zones, each supported by its own changing rooms and other support facilities.

Aquatics CentreThe aquatics centre has a variety of pools for many different types of activity. These include a leisure pool, lane pool, waterslide, and a whirlpool. Because there are multiple pools, both adults and children can use the facilities simultaneously without major conflict.

GymnasiumThe gymnasium space can accommodate basketball, volleyball, badminton, and gymnastics. It is surrounded by a walking/jogging track, fitness studios, cardio area, weight training area, and spectator seating.

ArenaSince this building is in Canada it obviously has two Olympic-sized hockey arenas with spectator seating, changing rooms, and equipment rooms.

LibraryThe Edmonton Public Library is also located in the rec centre - it features 15,000 square feet of shelving space with sections for all ages to appeal to all of the users of the recreation centre.

Multi-Use SpacesThere are a variety of multi-use spaces throughout the building, including an indoor playground, child-care facilities, party rooms, community rooms, and an inter-cultural room.

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Site EngagementThe fitness center is located in the center of its site

and is surrounded by parking lots and outdoor athletic fields. Immediately surrounding the building there are more interactive outdoor spaces such as the library’s

outdoor reading pavilion and the outdoor waterslides. Future schools are proposed as future projects; these

schools would be able to take advantage of the recreation centre’s facilities.

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Terwillegar Recreation Centre

Year: 2011Location: Edmonton, AlbertaArchitect: Sahuri + PartnersSize: 312,000 square feet

The Terwillegar community recreation center is the first multi-recreational facility that Edmonton has seen within the past 30 years. This is the first of four recreation centers to be built in Edmonton.

Main AmenitiesFour NHL size ice rinks

Aquatic center with a 53-meter multi-purpose pool, leisure/wave pool, whirlpool, waterslide, steam room, lazy river

‘Flexi hall’ and multi-purpose rooms

Children’s playground and classrooms

Fitness center with a walking/jogging track

Commercial spaces

The facility is a LEED silver certified candidate The team designed a large bio-swale system for the parking lot, so that water that enters the site will go through a natural filtration system

Over 1000 trees on site to provide climate control shading

66 bicycle parking spots

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The Social HeartThe Terwillegar complex is designed to serve as a social heart for the community. On the macro scale, it functions as a central hub for the surrounding recreational fields and schools. On a micro scale, the lobby is representative of a programmatic nucleus, visually and physically connecting the adjacent spaces.

TERWILLEGAR RECREATION CENTER

OUTDOOR SPORTS FIELDS

EDUCATION FACILITIES

COMPETITIVE POOL

AQUATIC LEISURE CENTER

CHILDREN’S AREA

LOBBY- THE SOCIALHEART

FLEX GYM

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Line of VisionSince the lobby is represented as the social heart of the recreation center, it is essential that it serve as a dynamic central gathering space, surrounded by community activity spaces. From this position in the lobby, a visitor will visually be able to understand the main programmatic components of the building.

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Saint-HyacintheAquatic Centre

Year: 2011Location: Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, CanadaArchitect: ACDFSize: 3600 square meters

This swimming center includes both a competitive and recreational swimming areas. There is an eight lane, 25-meter competition basin with a one meter diving board, and three meter platform. The recreational area boosts a community basin with a water games and a five meter waterside, therapeutic basin, and sauna.

There is also pool side seating for 450 visitors. Locker rooms and multipurpose rooms are available for community members. The staff and administration areas are positioned to overlook the basins whenever possible for safety. The cafe and other public spaces encircle the basins to create a pleasant viewing experience.

Ground Floor First Floor

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LayoutThe project layout puts a volume into an economic shell. This creates a dense interior, similar to a snail. The large opening reinforce the connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

The program layout and the play of indoor/outdoor spaces is a symbolic gesture. The building is reminiscent of a glacier imposing itself across the natural landscape. The triangular piece anchors the building to the ground.

Multi-Use

Aquatic

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o stampedout voids housing skylights which allow natural light into t w.

This allows visiors to engage both sky and water, which makes this ‘indoor pool’ unique indeed.

The white masses of the ceiling which hover over the two basins accent the two very different enviornements.

The stretched and pulled forms over the rec-reational pool create a more playful spcae while the triangulated surfaces appear over the competition area.

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The solid upper mass contains two stamped out voids which house skylight. These allow natural light to penetrate the building into the basins below. This allows the visitors to engage with both the sky and the water, creating a unique water experience.

The white masses of the ceiling, which hover over the water basins accent the two very different environments. The stretched an pulled forms over the recreation pool create a more playful space while the triangulated surfaces appear over the competition area.

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Boise State University Recreation and Aquatic Center

Year: 2002Location: Boise, IdahoArchitect: Yost Grube HallSize: 103,000 square feet

The Boise State University Student Recreation Center was built in order to unify Boise State’s large campus through its central location wide variety of courses and activities offered.

The Aquatic Center was built as an addition to the Recreation center in 2010, and currently available for full-time student use. A variety of classes and activities are offered at the aquatic center.

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Second Level2. Lounge5. Elevator23. Cardiovascular Equipment 24. Strength Training Equipment25. Exercise Terrace26. Classroom27. Multi-Purpose Room28. Group Exercise Studio29. Cycle Studio30. Indoor Track

First Level1. Entrance2. Lounge3. Service Desk4. Administrative Offices5. Elevator6. Fitness Testing and Training Room7. Courtyard8. Massage Therapy9. Equipment Desk10. Conference Room11. Club Sports Office12. Recreational Response13. Climbing Gym14. Outdoor Program Office15. Locker Rooms16. Family Changing Room17. Aquatic Center18. Racquetball/Volleyball Courts19. Squash/Racquetball Court20. Gymnasium21. Strength Training Equipment22. Strength and Conditioning Desk23. Cardiovascular Equipment

Athletic CourtsExercise AreasIndoor TrackAquatic CenterEducational SpaceOutdoor SpaceService AreasAdministrative Offices

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OrganizationThe main organization of the building is that the ath-letic courts and aquatic facility are located on the ground floor, along with the administrative spaces and service areas. The second level of the building is mostly dedicated to educational space. Exercise areas are split between both levels, and are located near public circulation areas.

Multi-Use SpacesMost of the educational spaces located on the sec-ond floor are multi-use spaces. They can be used to accommodate a large number of classes, such are art classes, exercise classes, computer classes, and more.

EntranceThe main entrance of the building contains a large two-story atrium, drawing visitors into the building. A wide hallway leads to the Aquatic Center. A grand central stair leads students to the second level, where wide public walkways are lined with exercise equip-ment and chairs designed to make the space feel like a gathering space.

Centralized LocationUnlike the old campus recreation center location, the location of this building is very centrally located on Boise State’s campus. It is located directly across the street from the Student Union, which is a major hub of student activity on campus. It is also extremely close to many other athletic fields, as well as other athletic facilities such as the school’s basketball arena and football stadium.

CirculationCirculation is a key aspect of this building. A majority of the circulation spaces serve double duty as both circulation and multi-use spaces. Circulation spaces were intentionally made much wider than they need-ed to be, which created spaces that could be used for a variety of functions. There is no defined exercise room in the building; instead, exercise equipment lines the edges of the hallways on both the first and second floors. Couches and tables line the other side of the hallway. This creates a very public gathering space, while saving square footage within the building.

Vertical Circulation

Horizontal Circulation

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Ecopolis Plaza

Year: 2010Location: Rivas Vaciamadrid, Madrid, SpainArchitect: Ecosistema Urbano

The Ecopolis Plaza represents a total harmony between programmatic and mechanical functions. The programmatic function of the building is to serve as a community center with a focus on children and education. One of the goals of the project is to educate children on issues related to the environment and sustainability, and the architects have used the mechanical functions of the building to accomplish this goal. The building and surrounding grounds are a beacon of sustainable design, and children may learn about preserving the environment from the very building they inhabit.

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SustainabilityThe project is located on an abandoned industrial brown-field. Building here is a healthy practice because new land is not scarred, and previously unsafe land is cleaned up for public use. Much of the exterior of the structure is comprised of a system of stationary and dynamic screens. These screens reduce heat gain and therefore cut back on the energy required to cool the space. The basic structure of the building is a concrete core, topped by a lightweight steel frame that supports the screen system. The concrete core is 50% subterranean, taking advantage of earth’s natural temperature regulation. The lightweight steel frame is designed to use as little material as possible, thus reducing energy consumption and cost during the production stage. The south facade of the building features a vast stretch of double-paned glass. The southern facing windows allow for solar gain during cold weather, while the dynamic screen system allows for shading during warm weather. A major feature of the site plan is the treatment pond at the center of the public square. Being on a brown-field, this feature is especially important in the treatment of contaminated runoff. Both runoff from the site and waste water from the building collect in the central pond, where aquatic plants break down contaminants and produce usable water for irrigation, toilet room use, etc. By focusing on the education of children, this project aims to create a new wave of environmentally-conscious adults. The building seems fun; it’s painted bright yellow, there are colorful slides and a playground, and it’s a welcome green patch in the midst of an industrial area. Children will have a strong positive reaction to this project and will associate sustainability with fun and happiness.

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Year: 1927-29Location: Moscow, RussiaArchitect: Konstantin Meinikov

The Rusakov Workers Club was built at the height of the Russian Constructivist Architectural Movement. Buildings built in this style were meant to showcase daring engineering feats, such as large cantilevers, as well as becoming propaganda themselves for a country that was defining itself, post civil war.

A Symbol in the CommunityAt first glance, an auditorium megaplex in 1920s Soviet Russia doesn’t really seem to have any choice lessons worth applying to our recreational facility in Urban Pittsburgh. The true noteworthy precedent of this structure is it’s status as a beacon in it’s Moscow neighborhood. Bloomfield is a community that needs a rallying point. This will serve not only a piece of architecture that shows reverence to Bloomfield’s past, but also one that serves as a beacon--one that commands the respect of other Pittsburghers for the entire community of Bloomfield.

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Grandness of ScaleThis section shows the sort of grandness of scale that the club causes the occupant to feel becomes immediately apparent. The placement of the auditorium seating creates a unique connection with the main auditorium space, one that can easily be shut off for small-group meetings. The area seen as alternate seating/ secondary, meeting space (in yellow) proves to be quite large, if not sort of wedged in. The offices and bureaucratic spaces appear almost as an afterthought, though no doubt the work done there was significant, probably the reason it is so tucked away. It should also be noted that the street-level entrance lobby is also a large space. These overly large spatial zones really advance the sentiment of 1920s Russia that no one should be deprived of having the occasional excellent architectural experience. The same can be said of our rec center’s effects on the Bloomfield neighborhood. In providing the community a beacon of architectural interest and a place that they will want to spend time in, we will most certainly have an indelibly positive impact on their lives.

Program ElementsThe Rusakov Workers Club may not share many programmatic elements with our current project, but it is however a shining example of the use of scale to elicit emotions from those experiencing it. While the Club does have some alterior office space (as is evident in section), the building’s plan consists of three main zones: auditorium seating, alternate seating/ secondary ,meeting space (in yellow), and also the main auditorium stage, seen above also serve as break out meeting spaces, which can be closed off for privacy. This space is just phenomenal in that it serves its purpose--make the guests of the Club feel small during big propaganda speeches. It succeeds in also offering a place for small community gatherings and social affairs, all while standing as a symbol of what Russian architects saw as Communistic Futurism.

One of the very few interior views of the building. In recent years it has fallen into disrepair.

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Noyes Community and Recreation Center

Year: 2007Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, New YorkArchitect: Kieran TimberlakeSize: 28,000 square feet

The Noyes Community and Recreation Center acts as a hub for Cornell University’s West Campus. The center houses a variety of athletic spaces in addition to convenience and social spaces. Aside from the large program, the building is notable for its connections to the site and exterior in general.

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and Recreation Center accommodates many functions for its size. The ground floor houses large multipurpose rooms, a gymnasium for basketball and volleyball, and a lounge area, complete with a rock climbing wall. The first floor contains spacious weight and exercise rooms, a combination cafe and convenience store, and additional lounge areas. Directly adjacent to the south side of the building is an outdoor basketball court, with amphitheater style seating integrated into the hillside. The lounges and lobbies on the two floors act as the main areas of circulation, allowing the rest of the building to sprawl out easily. Essentially, this technique allows for the vast amount of program to fit within the small footprint.

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The Noyes Community and Recreation Center was designed not only to bring the surrounding community together, but also connect its occupants with the exterior. In addition to the massive glazed walls, three large apertures in the lobby ceiling allow for a lot of natural light to filter into the space. The main staircase connecting the two floors breaks the boundaries of the building and continues outside. This opens up the space further and creates a phenomenal moment, distorting the occupants’ visual perceptions of what is inside and what is outside. This shared staircase also allows one to see how the layout of the building somewhat follows the topography of the site around it.

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This multi-purpose, 6 floor building, fulfills multiple programs into one building envelope. The center holds the PSU Bookstore, retail shopping, a bike hub, a natatorium, archives and records, classrooms, a chancellor’s office, a rooftop garden, the PSU parking office, and recreation facilities. The project is located in the downtown Portland, Oregon on the Portland State Campus. The building seeks to engage the outside. Oriented to the south, the natatorium, lobby, and basketball gyms face the PSU urban plaza, one of Portland’s many public spaces. Through the large windows occupants can view the city, opening up the plaza below and creating a sense of transparency. The various functions are expressed in the facade creating a dialogue with the public space before.

Portland

Portland State UniversityAcademic and StudentRecreation Center

Year: 2010Location: Portland, OregonArchitect: Yost Grube HallSize: 208,00 square feet

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rThe Pioneer Courthouse Square, on the right, is aptly referred to as the living room of Portland. Yost Grube Hall has attempted to create this same atmosphere in the public space outside the rec center. However by placing fountains and ramps into the plaza the natural flow of a crowd . The plaza has shifted from a destination point and a place for people to gather to a crossroad of all the diverse modes of transport. The place of congregation has now shifted to the roof terrace. This unfortunately separates the users and the public creating a privileged view.

PSU urban location provides the student and faculty to multiple forms of transportation, including street cars, light rail and bus transportation as well as the ease of walking or biking to the heart of Portland. The stress on public transportation is just one of the ways the center is promoting sustainability. The rec center has also utilizes storm water by capturing roof run-off and reusing in water closets and as fire suppres-sion water. The rec center also utilizes natural light through skylights and by capturing the solar energy through solar panels on the roof.

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Space AllocationThe Recreation facilities are center of the building and cater to the students and faculty on campus. It occupies the 2nd, 3rd, and fourth floors. The basketball courts and natatorium help tie the building together by occupying two levels of space. Features include three basketball courts, a track, 36-foot climbing wall, weight and cardio equipment and a six-lane, 25-meter swimming pool heated to 82 degrees F, which moderates the air temperature. While the front plaza does not necessarily achieve its aims as a place of congregation, the 5th floor roof garden does. However, this space is protected from the general public and therefore is still not as open as one would like. The building sits on one main spine that splits the major functions of the building. Egress is located at the back and the front of the building, but the separate functions generally circulate within themselves, only accessing the spine to move vertically throughout the building. There is a small amount of retail on the first floor, however this elevated the second floor rec entrance to a more private audience. The PSU Rec Center is home to the School of Social Work, Chancellor’s office, as well as the PSU parking authority. Elevators, bathrooms, and storage are located on every floor. Additional storage is located in the basement. The connection to the city of Portland was further established by the city archives, dating back to the founding in 1851, located in the fifth floor public reading room and basement of the center. Several classrooms are located on the 2nd and 6th floors. There is also a large auditorium located in the basement. This piece of the program seems the least cohesive because of the vertical distance between them. The surrounding buildings create a plaza right outside the front of the rec center.

6th Floor 2nd Floor

Ground Floor5th Floor

4th Floor

3rd Floor Basement

Recreation

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Retail

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Services

Archives

Classrooms

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Main Accomplishments: -Unified recreation center -Use of multi-purpose spaces -Use of color -Maximize program space in small Amount of land

Main Programmatic Elements: -Gymnasium -Leisure Spaces -Rock-Climbing Wall -Outdoor play areas

Saint-Cloud Sports Center

Year: 2009Location: Saint-Cloud, FranceArchitect: KOZ Architects

The 3 story Saint-Cloud sports center is an ideal prec-edent for the recreation center in Bloomfield, PA. The first reason for this is the site location. Saint-Cloud is located within an urban development surrounded by private residences. It contrasts strongly with its sur-roundings. It does this through the use of materiality and color.

The majority of the building is constructed with con-crete and glass. The concrete allowed for the greatest structural properties while maintaining open spac-es on the interior. The use of concrete and glass also allowed the architects to incorporate a vast array of colors within the building.

The use of color is both bold and functional. It attracts the attention of the children who predominately use this space. The colors on the outside can help the user locate the spaces within the building. It also allows children to easily orient themselves visually.

The goal of this project was to create the maximum program size while maintaining a relatively small site. To do so, the architects combined programmat-ic elements to utilize the spaces. For example, the rock-climbing walls and the gymnasium were com-bined to share the same space.

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The circulation of the building was increased 31 times beyond the code standards in order to create yet an-other space for children to play. In addition, the roof serves as an open space as well, completely enclosed to protect the children’s wellbeing.

Another way the spaces were utilized was by extrud-ing the spaces to the maximum height. This allowed “canyons” to be carved out of the concrete to allow for the maximum amount of natural lighting deep within the spaces of the building not touching an exte-rior wall.

Furthermore, this project was such a success because it left the building up to interpretation of the occupant and user.

First Floor

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University of CincinnatiCampus Recreation Center

Year: 2010Location: Cincinnati, OhioArchitect: Morphosis

The University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center unites feuding buildings into one group of cohesive elements. This structure connects the campus and holds together several site conditions, and encouraging social exchanges.

The center is a recognizable icon for the school while also being an extremely practical solution to the program required of it. The recreation center acts as a keystone to hold the surrounding campus facilities together and creates a smooth transition between them as well.

Program Elements- Recreational Facilities- Classrooms- Student Housing- Dining Hall- Varsity Aquatic Center

The building is made up of five distinct, but connected components. Weaving is used as an idea to knit these varied elements together into a cohesive project. Interwoven paths lead users through the building and tie together the different pieces of the program. The aluminum wrapped student housing, metal classroom wing, athletic center, food court, existing stadium, and surrounding structures are all integrated into one.

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rOne major way that the University of Cincinnati’s Recreation Center establishes its weaving concept is through the use of open to belows. To the left are plans of the ground floor and first level of the building. Highlighted in the ground plan are areas that are dou-ble height spaces that can look up into the next floor. The yellow areas in the second plan display areas that are open to below.

These open features allow the users of the building to peer into other program elements. In this way, the building is being woven, because the spaces begin to merge into one. Moments like this can be found in a few places throughout the structure allowing spaces to bleed together. Separate gymnasiums for weight machines and basketball courts merge into large areas that allow all of the users to be a part of a much larger fitness environment.

By taking advantage of the proximity to important local campus structures, the Recreation Center becomes the keystone that hold together the surrounding pieces of campus. Two large plazas are located on the main floor where students can congregate. Adjacent to these is Main Street. This path contains a large amount of campus foot traffic daily and cuts through the center of the building and joins the pieces of the school on either side. Secondary paths branch off of Main Street and intertwine other buildings allowing the Recreation Center to join the rest of campus seamlessly. The previously mentioned student housing funnels into these two plazas and Main Street which lead directly into the main green of campus.

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The building revolves around a large multi-purpose space, that is pictured to the right, that is used for dining, meetings, lectures, exhibits, and other envi-ronmental learning activities for children and adults. Other public areas are highlighted in green including two porch spaces on either side of the multi-purpose space.

Pocono Environmental Education Center

Year: 2005Location: Cincinnati, OhioArchitect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

The Pocono Environmental Education Center is a dynamic building with an emphasize on sustainabil-ity. Perpendicular to the entrance path (top right, highlighted in red), is a wall made out of recycled tire treads.A major goal of this project was to be responsible to the site and environmentally friendly overall. This process began by doing a study to make sure the building would not disrupt the local ecosystem. The site had been cleared by a previous owner and this was a major reason the building was situated as it was, in addition to being oriented to take advantage of the southern sun. Native grasses were planted to provide a landscape that is extremely low mainte-nance to the point where the grass does not even need watered. A wet, low-lying area north of the building was kept to provide a controlled place for rain runoff to go instead of disrupting the surround-ing area. The diagrams and accompanying captains explain features of the building that allow PEEC to use 43% less energy than a comparable conventional building.